FARNET
Fisheries Areas Network
FLAG Factsheet
The North Sardinia FLAG runs for 931 km along the northern coast of the island which features a jagged coastline, small and sandy or rocky coves and only a few long stretches of beach. The north-eastern part of Sardinia is mostly mountainous with typical granite areas found in the Gallura region. The local economy is based on tourism, granite extraction, small-scale coastal fishing and agriculture (breeding farm, cork, wine and oil production).
The 224 fishing enterprises (of which many are cooperatives) present in the FLAG area, represent the 41% of the region’s companies. 28 aquaculture enterprises are active in the FLAG area and they represent 54% of the island's plants. In particular, there are 15 sea-farming plants: including 10 mussel farms, 1 is oyster farm and 4 are fish farms.
The presence of three marine protected areas (Capo Caccia, Asinara-Isola Piana and La Maddalena) and three national reserves (Asinara National Reserve, Porto Conte Regional Reserve, La Maddalena National Reserve) supports the environmental protection of the area, at the same time is challenging for the economic development of the area. Moreover, the FLAG identified the need for the empowerment of local producers and consumers, and for the strengthening of the supply chain and the increasing of added value of local fisheries products.
In the FLAG area there are two National Parks, the Asinara Park and the La Maddalena Archipelago, and Porto Conte Park in Alghero. There are also a lot of protected marine areas (Alghero, Asinara, Tavolara e Molara), special protection areas and over ten sites of Community interest.
The FLAG strategy is primarily aimed at coastal communities and their hinterland, where fishing communities and aquaculture farmers operate. It aims to preserve traditions, to maintain high levels of environmental quality (including clean water), and to pursue the diversification of activities and the integration between different supply chains, such as fishery and tourism. Main objectives include the following:
The participatory approach which was already started in the previous programming period, helped to develop corporate businesses and professional networks, fostered and promoted a shift from a competitive model to a cooperative model to design and helped implement activities. By creating an equal opportunities environment for women and young people, the FLAG is positively affecting employment rates.
National and regional
Project examples include:
The calls will be published about every six months on: http://www.gacnordsardegna.it/avvisi-e-bandi/
The FLAG is interested in cooperation projects related to:
Furthermore, the FLAG is interested in cooperation with the recreational fishing sector, in order to make it a strategic lever for the development of the local area, on integrating the need to diversify activities, control recreational fishing effort and maintain the income of professional small-scale fishermen and women.
The North Sardinia FLAG collaborates regularly with the other FLAGs in Sardinia; in particular, it has signed an agreement with the Eastern Sardinia FLAG and with the Alta Gallura LAG, with which it shares part of its territory.
The most important organisations of the partnership include: 17 Coastal Municipalities, 14 fishing enterprises, 9 aquaculture enterprises, 1 transformation / marketing company, 3 Natural Parks and Marine Protected Areas, the Chamber of Commerce, the University of Sassari and various Trade Associations.